Improved method of making barrels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHERIDAN ROBERTS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVED METHOD OF MAK|NG BARRELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 31,558, dated February26, 1861.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SHERIDAN ROBERTS, of Cleveland, in the county ofGuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements inBarrels, Gasks, and Kegs; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and complete description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part ofthis specification, in'which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of theshell or sheet from which the cylinder part of the barrel, cask, or kegis taken. Fig. 2 is an end view of such cylindrical sheet or shell; andFig. 3 is a section thereof, showing the bulge therein, and which formsthe bulge of the barrel, cask, or keg.

My invention relates to the forming the cylinder portion of barrels,casks, or kegs from one entire piece cut from cylindrical sheets orshells, which cylindrical sheets or shells are cut or removed from thesurface of solid cylinders by means of a curved knife or tool, ashereinafter set forth and described. The heads are put in in the usualmanner, and the barrel, cask, or keg hooped in the customary mode.

In forming the cylindrical sheet or shell A B, Figs. 1 and 2, I firstcut a log of suitable in Fig. 3. The blade of this cutter is made asthin as is consistent with the required strength, and is moved towardthe center of the log as the log revolves upon the spindle of the latheat such a speed as to insure the requisite and uniform thickness of thecylindrical sheet or shell, and which, by virtue of the curve of theknife or cutter, has the proper curve or bulge of the barrel, cask, orkeg. Sections of the cylindrical sheet or shell thus formed ofsufficient width to form the body or cylinder portion of a barrel, cask,or keg are i cut off successively until the solid cylinder is reduced totoo small a diameter to make a further removal practicable, each pieceso removed being sufficient for the body of the intended barrel, cask,or keg. IVhile the stuff is still soft and yielding, the two edges arebrought together, and truss-hoops driven upon each end, in whichconditionthey are set away: to dry. After this the chine and groove forthe heads are cut, the heads introduced, and the hoops driven on in theusual manner.

Vhat I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

Making barrels, kegs, &c., by cutting from a solid piece of wood ascroll of proper thick- .ness and size, the scroll having the usualconcave surface inside, and the outer surface cor-' respondingly convex,as described, and completed as specified.

